Phils hope Stairs leads to playoffs

Veteran Matt Stairs joined the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, eager to fill whatever role needed as the defending NL East champs try to make a push back to the playoffs.

Veteran Matt Stairs joined the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, eager to fill whatever role needed as the defending NL East champs try to make a push back to the playoffs.

Stairs was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade. The Blue Jays will receive a player to be named later.

"They (Toronto) were headed in a different direction," Stairs said. "I can understand that. It's tough leaving Toronto, being Canadian and playing for a Canadian team. But when they told me I was going to Philly I was like... 'nice.' Going to a ballpark where I enjoy playing in."

With Geoff Jenkins on the disabled list with a strained hip flexor, the Phillies needed a left-handed bat.

"We lost Jenkins so we were short left-handed," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said Saturday. "Consequently, (we) get an experienced guy that can play some and hit off the bench.

GIRL POWER? A woman may be elected vice president of the United States in November. Another woman nearly became the Democratic nominee for president, winning primaries in 21 states.

Is baseball finally ready to break the glass ceiling in the general manager's office?

Could it happen in Seattle?

The Mariners are expected to intensify their GM search in September.

Any number of No. 2 men could draw the Mariners' attention. But the Mariners would be wise to give strong consideration to a No. 2 woman: Kim Ng, the Dodgers' vice president and assistant general manager.

Ng is flat-out ready to be a major-league general manager. At age 39, she has paid her dues. Ng is completing her 18th year in baseball, the last 11 as an assistant general manager. Seven of those years have been with the Dodgers, where she has worked under three general managers with increasing responsibilities; four were with the Yankees, where she won three World Series rings.

As the nature of the GM position changes, the one obvious mark against Ng - that she never played the game - becomes less relevant. Only two current GMs - Oakland's Billy Beane and the White Sox's Ken Williams - played in the majors.

NOT SO CHIPPER: Chipper Jones is hoping his ailing right elbow won't stop him from winning his first batting title.

His biggest problem lately has been a balky right elbow.

"It's really, really painful," said Jones, who has missed 24 games due to injury.

The third baseman said it's not a structural problem, and it bothers him on some throws and occasionally when he extends the elbow at the plate.

"It makes you want to cry," he said.

Diamond dust: The Cleveland Indians have been in existence for 107 years, and have fielded 1,659 players. Grady Sizemore is only their second to join the 30-30 (30 homers, 30 steals) club. Joe Carter (32-31 in 1987) is the other. ... The Orioles beat the White Sox on Monday, 4-3, in 14 innings, in the completion of a game from April 28. Alberto Castillo, got his first major league win, but since the game is officially dated as April 28, it means he technically earned a big-league win before making his big-league debut.